New mod....

Latest "make-up" for my Alphie..

TRD Sportivo front lip...

Not original one, imitation...

Made in Malaysia from fibreglass.

Got this lip from JE-Emotion, Ampang..
Price at RM280 plus RM150 painting...
In my opinion, the painting is on 'high' side in term of pricing.

So my front Alphard got 'lowered' a little. So need extra careful when parking or driving on bumping condition or slope..so sacrified for the sake of cosmetics..huhuhuhu

Wheel Hub Adapter - Center Cone Ring

My ride symptoms:

Normal driving (<95km/h), no vibration significantly can be felt. After exceeding than 95km/h, steering started to be shaking. Enough to irritate me!! Been lasting for about since brought back the car to Malaysia. Actually in Japan, I never drove above than 90km/h. Embarrassed to do so because the Japs never drove like most of the typical Malaysian driver. Moreover they tend to drove fast only if driving real sport/performance car. Even Accord or Camry, seldom saw that they drive more than 100km/h. Accord and Camry mostly drove by uncle & auntie (pakcik & makcik).





The vibration can be felt throughout the speed which more than 95km/h. At first, thought that the alignment & balancing could troubleshoot this problem. Nahhhh......Still the same. The foremen who I trusted said that the balancing & alignment could not cure the problem because two of my wheels were already defect (rim bengkok). Send my rims to be straighten back. Cost me about RM45/pc.
Did the alignment & balancing again. The vibration still could be felt but the level is slightly reduced. Thought that nothing can be done anymore except change to the new rims.



Yesterday, want to give try another tyre workshop at Batu Pahat, suggested by the foremen. Heard the rumours that the workshop is the best workmanship & quality in town. The shop's owner is a friendly guy. After dissembling the tyre from the hub, he said sure the vibrations cannot be cured based on normal alignment & balancing only. He proposed to me to attach the center cone ring to the hub before attaching the rims after alignment and balancing had been done there. The center cone ring cost me RM60/set for all tyres. Actually have heard about this things but my mind had been setup that my defect rims  + Achilles ATR Sport 2 tyre which are the budget tyres not a premium/high quality tyres caused all this vibration.

The center cone ring are made of alloy. The are different size of the center cone rings which associate with the car model according to the manufacturers. In my honest opinion the selection of the center cone ring depends on 2 things:

1.      Diameter size of the axle hub (base on car)

2.      Diameter size of the hub's hole at the centre of the rim.

Just go the tyre workshop, they know what to do. Cause they have a lot of the center cone rings & can try & error to find the match. Buy from online would be an option too, but risky because the hub would be match for model but the not necessary the aftermarket rims. If using a standard OEM rims, the diameter of the hub and the hub's hole at the centre of the rims would be perfectly matched. No need this center cone rings. If vibration occur, huge probably can be solved just by normal alignment & balancing / changing to the quality tyres.

Cone Ring Attachment

The Center Cone Rings attached to the axle hub

Testimonial:

Drive about 95km/h - the vibration had been in minimal level compared to undone.

Drive about 120km/h - still the same level as above.

Drive about 140km/h - the level of steering shaking is slightly increase but nothing near the level when drive 95km/h before undone.

>140km/h, will try today on the PLUS Highway (my family are going back to Pendang, Kedah this weekend.)

I believe that the steering shaking & vibration are solved already.

UPDATE: (29/07/2013)

Just came home from Pendang last night.

Finally, the vibration/steering shaking's issue hand been resolved.. ;)

Maintaining about 140km/h ~ 150km/h averagely..no irritating shaking..Enough to give me the confident to drive faster.

New record also, my fastest speed 165km/h..hahahaha, Honestly, 2AZ-FE engine still has a lot to offer but my suspension and tyres/rims dont gave me the required level of confidence needed.

Disadvantages as expected : Fuel Consumption rises...

1 & 1/2 full tank needed for the journey....

NEXT PROJECT : IMPROVE HIGH SPEED STABILITY!!!!!





My Alphard Wood Panel

Wood panel without brand - made in China, bought during my time at Japan.
So far , its OK..last for almost 4 years already.

 

Car Perfume - Confuse!!!!

My car perfume is already dried up. Time to top up!!
Opss!!! Forget what 'flavour'??!!

I am using the Glade brand. And did not remember which variant. Do remember the smell but when buying a new one, hard to smell the complete package of the perfume.

Decided to buy the 'ATTRACTION' Glade.

Notice at the bottom of the perfume bottle, there is indication of the variant.

So next time, just look at the bottom of the bottle to remember the variant.

Buying 2 bottles of the perfume. But honestly, does not smell enough inside the car.
May be need to use 4 bottles??? hahaha

Side Door Panel Re-Installation...

My side door panel (both side) - the double sided tape had been loosened.
Need to re-do installation, otherwise it look weird because can see the gap is significantly widen. Can be noticed by naked eye. Moreover, worried if the side door panel would be falling down somewhere on the middle of road. Dangerous for other road user. Honestly thought, it will not dropped down because there are 3 screws attached to the body and side door panel. For pre-cautious, would like to be fixed.

 

By using a sharp knife, dismante the side door panel by cutting the double sided tape inside the gap.

 

 

 

 

Actually, this door side panel was attached by 3 methods based on my observation:

 

1. Double sided tape along sides that touch the body's surface
2. Using hard glue (black in color), look alike 'rubber glue' - dunno what is the material
3. Drilled the body for screw attachment

The side door panel is hardly to dis-assemble mainly because the black rubber glue.

Could see that the removing the rubber glue got the paint peel off and expose the original color of my Alphard (light green metallic -6T2. Luckily, the original color is not peel off coz it could expose the steel body and lead to corrusion later. Thats why, the original color is the best for our car's body due to its highly proper/profesional process of paint work especially Toyota Japan.Locally assemble, no comment ..hehehee.

 

 

The side door panel that succesfully remove from the body. Need to be cleaned out coz the glue residues are still attached.

 

 



Mine are made from fibreglass. Alphard AX model does not have a hole on the body to attach the clip of original side door panel which made from PU. Opted to use non-ori side door panels coz the price is high for me, and even use the original, still need to attach by using double sided tape/glue or screw also.

 

After cleaning, time to attach the side door panel - reverse process...

Before attach double sided tape, of course not normal double sided tape, using the 3M brand and specially for outdoor - heavy duty, clean the surface of body and side door panel by 'primer'.

 

 

 

 



Road Tax Renewal

For the first time, need to renew Road Tax for my alphard for another one year.
Surveyed some insurance company beside ETIQA TAKAFUL like KURNIA, TOKIO-MARINE and ALLIANZ. But my decision? Continue another year with ETIQA due to previous experience claim with them. No hassle at all.

What are my considerations for renewal??

The Loading 

ETIQA imposed 5% of premium insurance value for 7 years and above age of car. Generally most of the insurance company will imposed some percentages according to the age of the car. More old the car, expect to pay more percentages of The Loading.

The Excess

ETIQA not imposed any value. Excess means that when there is any claim, we need to pay the Excess value as a part of total claim. Let's say, if the excess value is imposed at RM600 - and the total repair cost (claim with insurer) is RM1000, we need to pay RM600 to the workshop and the balance is paid by insurer (RM400). Normally, the comprehensive cover with excess term contribute generally less payment (5 ~ 10% lower). If owner confidently will not make any claim during coverage period, well, worth it!! But who can expect the future?? Me?? I will never choose the insurer with Excess. NEVER!!NEVER!! NEVER!!

Front Windscreen Cover

One of the add-on coverage of the comprehensive cover. Opted to choose this coverage since Malaysian's roads are full with lorry carrying sand/soil. Front windscreen get hit by a stone is a normal tragic tragedy for our car, hahahaha.The question here, what value I am going to cover?
Need to spend some times to survey for the price of original/local/made in China Alphard front windscreen. Heard it from friend that RM2000 is enough to cover for the original Toyota (made in Thailand) windscreen based on his real experience. I choose to take a windscreen coverage at RM2000. My last year windscreen coverage is RM1000. Claim on windscreen coverage never affect the NCD.

RENEWAL PROCESS

I made a renewal through online.
Key-in the information needed and the quick calculator show the estimated to be paid.
Based on the estimated value market price for Alphard 2.4 2004 (9 years car), the market value is set to the range of RM128K ~  RM134K. So that's is the market price for the Alphard 2.4 set by ETIQA. ALLIANCE set the last year market value of 2004 Alphard is RM115K.I am refer to this link to know the market value.
http://www.einsuran.com/vmv.html
Last year, planned to trade-in my Alphard with new Camry, the seller only rated my Alphard for RM80K only!!!
The websites which i visited to estimate the how much will i spend for the renewal:

ETIQA - https://www.motortakaful.com/index.php?tpt=mt_cmd
ALLIANZ  - http://www.einsuran.com/B001001.aspx

Method to renewal process online:

1.  Log in to https://www.motortakaful.com/
2.  Key in the required information either in Quick Calculator
3.  Pay with Credit Card
4.  Etiqa will sent e-cover note via email.
5.  Optional : Proceed to MyEg to renew Road Tax (also can pay with Credit Card)

As for me, I'll try to pay the Road Tax about RM729.60 with credit card via MyEg (must have own account first) but the transaction keep informing me that my CC is having some difficulties. Already try many times, the result still same. So, got fed-up. I renewed road tax by visiting JPJ Sri Gading on cash money. For information, paying the road tax can be done by CC also.

Associate links...

MyEg : http://www.myeg.com.my/
Summons Check : http://www.jpj.gov.my/pertanyaan-saman-notis

Tires Hunter!!!

Hunting for new set of tires. Size 235/50R18.
This is a standard size for Alphard/Vellfire which are using a 18 inches rims as a standard.

My current tire is due to 'over-age'. My Alphard was installed with Bridgestone Potenza RE050 225/45R18 manufactured in 2008. Already 5 years worn. The condition of the tires :

1.  The tread left - about 50%.
2.  Many small cracked rubber all around.
3.  Driving experience - felt 'hard bumping' and quite noisy

Need to change because worry it may be well exploded during cruising on the highway.
My hunting begins with:

1.  FALKEN ZIEX 512
2.  FALKEN AZENIS PT722
3.  ACHILLES ATR SPORT 1
4.  ACHILLES ATR SPORT 2
5.  GT RADIAL CHAMPIRO HPY

Falken, Japan brand but manufactured in Thailand. Not recommended tires for MPV, especially Falken Ziex 512. Got many negative review from MPV owner (Estima & Alphard). Moreover, during my time in Japan, my japanese mechanic did not recommend the Falken for full size MPV.He said not comfortable in term of noise and performance in wet condition.

Achilles and GT Radial, both budget tyre under RM550, made in Indonesia. From observation, GT Radial is slightly expensive.

Finally decided to use Achilles ATR Sport 2. Priced at RM427.50/pc at one of the tire workshop in Batu Pahat. Need to order coz no stock at that time. One month after placing order, the tires finally reached at the workshop.

Achilles ATR Sport 2., manufactured code 0813. Means that the tires are manufactured on the 8th week of the year 2013.
 

After being fitted to my Alphard

So far, no complain. Compare to previous tires, quite stable in motion may be due to the widen tires and more comfortable. Previous tire, Bridgestone Potenza 225/45R18 is not suitable size for full size MPV in my opinion. Achilles so far is less noise compare to 5 year previous tire.

Below than RM500/pc this tires, the performance is suit its price. According to the online reviews, ATR Sport scored quite good comments.

PVC Carpet Mat DIY

My OEM carpet mat already dirty and i am sooo lazy to wash the dirt out..hahaha
Bought the PVC material at one of car accessory shop at Parit Raja. 
The shop quoted the lowest price, RM4.50/sqft. The market price for this PVC material range from RM5.50 to RM7.00 per square feet.

PVC Material:
Color : brown to match with beige interior color.
I bought about 12ft x 4ft ---> 48sqft.
The material have a standard width of 4 feet only. For an Alphard the interior floor width has more than 4ft!!
In order to make it `super` nice and luxurious look, must cut the material vertically. Means that there were quite plenty of waste material. For me , worth it... Coz, shop will charge about RM320 ~ RM400 for a nicely fit PVC carpet. For just cut a square carpet (kotak2 je), market price about RM200 ~ RM280.

 

 

 

 

My method, just simple:

1. take out the OEM carpet mat and use them as a guideline jig
2. using a sharp knife (yg 20 posen satu tu, pisau lipat), trim the carpet according exactly the boarder/edge of the OEM carpet.
3. install the PVC carpet, nicely fit to the floor.

 



 

 

 

 





As for cleaning duty for this type of carpet, actually very hard to vacuum out the dirt or dust. Must take out completely from the floor, and `hit` it hard by using a `penyapu` to force the dirt out!!!! HAHAHAHAH
That`s the clear disadvantage of using this type of carpet.

My DIY carpet mat after installation...

 

 

 

 

 



 

 

 



New Record FC!!!!

Managed to achieve 715.3km per full tank as indicated by odometer. 
Journey from Parit Raja to Pendang, Kedah along PLUS highway.
After service - oil change/air filter change + balancing/alignment

Pumped in Esso petrol.

With stock ECU, stock tyre (205/65R16) will have - 338,363.3 complete rotation.
Therefore my actual distance is calculated by 2.0725 X 338,363.3 = 701.3km.

Finally, my Alphard FC > 700km per full tank...!! I am sooo satisfy... :)

Time to service

Time Up!!!! 
My Alphard need to be serviced today. Actually already clocked more than 4500km mileage since last service. Time to shop engine oil, oil filter and others (suspect front & rear brakepad). The existing brakepads (original Toyota) were never replaced since owned this giant. Already 2.5 years.

Surveying the maintenance's items.
Went to Carrefour Batu Pahat to take a look at engine oil. Personally, i prefer Semi-Synthetic Mobil Super2000. Yes, there were clearance stocks there. Priced at RM90 per 4 litres bottle. But something is disinterest me. The manufactured date is November 2010. That's 2 years ago. Plus the oil's spec is API SL standard. The new API is API-SN. I opted to choose the latest API Standard for my cars. So, i did not buy the engine oil although the price was really interesting.

Finally, i bought the engine oil at one of the Mobil Petrol Station at Sri Gading (before the pedestrian fly-over). Bought at RM113 per 4 litres and met the standard API-SN. Mobil Super 2000 10W-40 Semi-Synthetic 4 litres to be exact. The manufacturing date is December 2011 but with latest API-SN standard.



Bought the original Toyota oil filter, RM18 at sparepart shop.

The part number is 90915-YZZE2

Part is manufactured in Thailand by Toyota Thailand. 

Just for record, 

1) changing engine oil without replacing oil filter need - 4.1L

2) changing engine oil with oil filter need - 4.2L

This is service setup by Hamamatsu Netz Toyota based on my observation during my time at Japan.

Some workshop may be said that 4L is sufficient. Used to top up only 4L Estima ACR30W which use same engine 2AZ-FE. Honestly, did not find any irregularity or abnormaly by using this setup.

Went to one of tyre workshop at Parit Raja to change oil. 

Also, i did replace the air filter DIY.

Luckily, during my visit to Autobacks last year, managed to buy MITSINBO brand part - 2 pcs at RM10.10/pc.

My regular spare part shop quote RM15/pc for aftermarket air filter, brand - FILTON.

The part number is 17801-28010 sharing part with Toyota Estima ACR30W.

Front brake pad also needed to be replaced.

The workshop told that original front brake pad cost RM300 while aftermarket brand 'BestForm' cost at RM150. Opted to buy aftermarket one. Yes, that part may be decide between death or live!! But the BestForm is not a 'cikai' brand from China Mainland. Part are manufactured by Malaysia company. Moreover, i am not that kind of speedy driver (ayat utk sedapkan hati..hehe).

Total cost of maintenance:

At tyre workshop

Mobil Super2000 semi-synthetic (10W-40)  = RM113

Oil Filter 90915-YZZE2                               = RM18

BestForm semi-metallic brakepad (Front)      = RM150

Balancing                                                      = RM28

Alignment                                                      = RM18

Labour charge                                               = RM15

Changing Air Filter DIY

Air Filter 17801-28010                                 = RM10.10

Labour charge                                               = free Maaa DIY..hehehe

TOTAL COST OF MAINTENANCE (67,000KM) = RM352.10

Just for an update:

Testimonial: (26/7/2013)

The BestForm brake pad served it's purpose but the dust from the braking event is significantly much compared to OEM making the rims dirty/ blacken with the dust. Suspect that the lifespan is much shorter than OEM.

My advice, go for OEM... :(